A North Carolina-based reporter fiercely criticized former President Donald Trump on Thursday for spreading misinformation about Hurricane Helene relief efforts, while communities are still grappling with the devastation. The storm, which left over 200 people dead across six states, continues to affect regions from Florida to Virginia, with North Carolina suffering the hardest blow.
In the midst of the ongoing crisis, Trump falsely claimed that President Joe Biden was “sleeping” on the job and that federal aid was intentionally being withheld from Republican areas, without providing any evidence. Trump’s accusations have been contradicted by both Democratic and Republican governors, who confirmed that the federal response has been timely and adequate.
“At least 202 people are dead across six states following Hurricane Helene, and no place was hit harder than North Carolina, where I’m from,” wrote reporter Ball. “And at least 40 people around Asheville, the area’s largest city, died in the storm. Residents in hard-to-reach places desperately need food, water, and medical supplies. It’s a tragedy in real time. You would think the partisan hacks would give it a rest while people are dead, dying, or missing. But folks out here were only spared the election gimmicks for about 100 hours.”
Ball specifically called out Trump for making false statements, such as claiming that Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, couldn’t reach Biden. This claim was refuted by Kemp himself, who confirmed that he had been in contact with the president, told NBC News.
Trump’s comments were made even as President Biden responded promptly to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s request for federal assistance. “Biden visited North Carolina Wednesday, and Cooper said he’d spoken with the president about using military assets at nearby Camp Lejeune and Fort Liberty to help out,” noted Ball. Since the disaster declaration, thousands of pounds of food and supplies have been airlifted by the National Guard to affected areas.
Ball also pointed to the actions of Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who has echoed similar false claims about the relief effort. Robinson, embroiled in controversy over a report linking him to Nazi posts on a porn site, has used these claims as a distraction. He was also the only state official who abstained from voting on Cooper’s emergency declaration.
“These Republicans are frauds,” Ball concluded. “They respond to emergencies like con artists and ambulance chasers, not like leaders. In times of crisis, some politicians are there to help, and some are there to stand and talk. We’ve seen enough of Donald Trump and his MAGA allies to know which kind they are.”
Ball’s scathing rebuke underscores the importance of truthful leadership during times of crisis, as federal and local teams continue working to aid those impacted by Hurricane Helene.